What is your perspective on American history?

[Signe The Survivor]

I mean if we ignore Marxism and those views aren't we actually doing the exact same thing everyone is saying our History books are doing to these students? Censoring things that are part of History. History are events that happened in time. Some of these events and some of the people involved in these events were not good, but we cannot ignore that. Slavery was horrible, what Hitler did was awful but it was part of History and should be taught as such. These are the topics that when I was teaching my students wanted to talk about. Of course being a teacher I had to walk very carefully with where these discussions went, but I feel when guided correctly my students got a pretty good whole view of the picture that was going on at that time. That is what History to me is about and how it should be taught.

 

[JaniceM]

I mean if we ignore Marxism and those views aren't we actually doing the exact same thing everyone is saying our History books are doing to these students? Censoring things that are part of History. History are events that happened in time. Some of these events and some of the people involved in these events were not good, but we cannot ignore that. Slavery was horrible, what Hitler did was awful but it was part of History and should be taught as such. These are the topics that when I was teaching my students wanted to talk about. Of course being a teacher I had to walk very carefully with where these discussions went, but I feel when guided correctly my students got a pretty good whole view of the picture that was going on at that time. That is what History to me is about and how it should be taught.

I don't think Marxism, Communism, etc., should be ignored either, but I believe the issues should be put in perspective.. and books written by Communists don't give anyone the correct perspective. In some cases, it's nothing but propaganda, while leaving out relevant facts.
(I'm not referring to the book Diva mentioned.)

 

[Signe The Survivor]

I don't think Marxism, Communism, etc., should be ignored either, but I believe the issues should be put in perspective.. and books written by Communists don't give anyone the correct perspective.
(I'm not referring to the book Diva mentioned.)

I agree that it doesn't give off the correct perspective, but it is a system that many follow and even if you don't follow it there are people that like reading and learning about that sort of stuff so they are informed and possibly so they can debate about it. I think books are such a huge learning tool even if they are used as a tool for debate.

 

[JaniceM]

I agree that it doesn't give off the correct perspective, but it is a system that many follow and even if you don't follow it there are people that like reading and learning about that sort of stuff so they are informed and possibly so they can debate about it. I think books are such a huge learning tool even if they are used as a tool for debate.

But what if a book only presents the author's agenda, and individuals reading it are not aware of the facts?

 

[Signe The Survivor]

But what if a book only presents the author's agenda, and individuals reading it are not aware of the facts?

I understand what you are saying. I would hope the reader if they while reading would come up with any questions would do research. I know when I read any book that is non fiction or a documentary I formulate many questions in my head while reading the authors perspective and do research to see if there are any contrasting views. Now if someone has absolutely no idea about the subject matter they are reading and they only somehow have this one persons view point I can see where they would become influenced possibly wrongly.

 

[Lewkat]

Frankly, I think all history is skewed a bit. Each country will see its history in as favorable way as possible. American history is carved out of many nations to say the least. And, to be sure, we've really no idea as to how many brave wanderers actually trod here before Columbus or Vespucci "discovered" us. It's thought that Phoenicians had been here as well as Vikings. If so, that's not covered as a part of our history which is sad. More archaeological digs might uncover some of this.

Some of our Indians arrived from Africa via many routes as did those who traveled across Europe and into Russia, finally traversing the Bering Strait. That's the history that's all so fascinating and each country has a background that would be as interesting as this.

 

[Signe The Survivor]

Frankly, I think all history is skewed a bit. Each country will see its history in as favorable way as possible. American history is carved out of many nations to say the least. And, to be sure, we've really no idea as to how many brave wanderers actually trod here before Columbus or Vespucci "discovered" us. It's thought that Phoenicians had been here as well as Vikings. If so, that's not covered as a part of our history which is sad. More archaeological digs might uncover some of this.

Some of our Indians arrived from Africa via many routes as did those who traveled across Europe and into Russia, finally traversing the Bering Strait. That's the history that's all so fascinating and each country has a background that would be as interesting as this.

The Archaeologist finds either by cave writings or digs is how that information will develop.

 

[Alligatorob]

I don't think Marxism, Communism, etc., should be ignored either, but I believe the issues should be put in perspective.. and books written by Communists don't give anyone the correct perspective.

Couldn't you say the same for books written by Republicans, or Christians, or Capitalists, or most anything. All have their bias reading a variety and making up your own mind is probably best.

The Archaeologist finds either by cave writings

Talk about bias, how could just a few cave painting cavemen or cavewomen give us a balanced view of the stone age? LOL

 

[Signe The Survivor]

Couldn't you say the same for books written by Republicans, or Christians, or Capitalists, or most anything. All have their bias reading a variety and making up your own mind is probably best.

Talk about bias, how could just a few cave painting cavemen or cavewomen give us a balanced view of the stone age? LOL

Every book that is written the Author has a perspective they are writing it from. This is why especially with historical books the person reading them should go into the book ready to do contrasting research on what the writer has written. There is always something you just might want to take another look at another view point from.

 

[Chet]

Every book that is written the Author has a perspective they are writing it from. This is why especially with historical books the person reading them should go into the book ready to do contrasting research on what the writer has written. There is always something you just might want to take another look at another view point from.

Can I ask if civics was being taught also? We had it and it was a foundation for what it means to be a good citizen as I remember.

 

[Signe The Survivor]

Can I ask if civics was being taught also? We had it and it was a foundation for what it means to be a good citizen as I remember.

Yes, it is offered in the 9th grade. It basically was involved in the US Government class. While the class focused on the 3 branches of government, it also focused in part of the class studies on skills to be an informed citizen of the country which is more the Civics part of it.

 

[Nosy Bee-54]

A well researched book with an extensive bibliography is:

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.

About the Author:
James W. Loewen is a best selling author. He is a regular contributor to the History Channel's History magazine and is a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Vermont.

I learned quite a bit from this book that the US Education Dept., state education boards and gov'ts should be charged with malpractice for what is taught in schools.

++++++++++++++++

"In a letter to Judge William Tudor on 11 August 1818 John Adams credited molasses as helping usher in American independence:

"Witts may laugh at our fondness for Molasses & we ought all join in the laugh with as much good humour as General Lincoln did, Genal Washington however always asserted & proved that Virginians loved Molasses as well as New Englandmen did. I know not why we should blush to confess that Molasses was an essential Ingredient in American Independence. Many great Events have proceeded from much smaller causes."

https://www.masshist.org/beehiveblog/2013/01/three-centuries-of-molasses-in-massachusetts/

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-04-oe-standage4-story.html

 

[mellowyellow]

I think we all started out a bit like China – brainwashing school children into believing only the positives and the very best of our history – wiping out lots of the nasty stuff you discover later on. Is it worth getting upset about? Probably not.

 

[Signe The Survivor]

A well researched book with an extensive bibliography is:

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.

About the Author:
James W. Loewen is a best selling author. He is a regular contributor to the History Channel's History magazine and is a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Vermont.

I learned a quite a bit from this book that the US Education Dept., state education boards and gov'ts should be charged with malpractice for what is taught in schools.

++++++++++++++++

"In a letter to Judge William Tudor on 11 August 1818 John Adams credited molasses as helping usher in American independence:

"Witts may laugh at our fondness for Molasses & we ought all join in the laugh with as much good humour as General Lincoln did, Genal Washington however always asserted & proved that Virginians loved Molasses as well as New Englandmen did. I know not why we should blush to confess that Molasses was an essential Ingredient in American Independence. Many great Events have proceeded from much smaller causes."

https://www.masshist.org/beehiveblog/2013/01/three-centuries-of-molasses-in-massachusetts/

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-04-oe-standage4-story.html

Not sure if I like that title much as I was a History teacher, but I do get it.

It is interesting that you reference the Molasses and American Independence. As you might be aware there was a very popular musical by the name of "1776" and they had a reference to molasses in one of the songs for the musical, "Molasses to Rum To Slaves" sung by South Carolina Governor Edward Rutledge. There were many inaccuracies in the movie for the drama of it, but some of the stories of it like John Adams being obnoxious was true and that originally Thomas Jefferson wanted nothing to do with the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

 

[Signe The Survivor]

I think we all started out a bit like China – brainwashing school children into believing only the positives and the very best of our history – wiping out lots of the nasty stuff you discover later on. Is it worth getting upset about? Probably not.

There is a lot of truth in what you are saying. You don't want to be telling children of the details of the Gas Chambers used by the Nazi's and some of the very harsh treatment of the slaves. Those sort of details can be picked up once they are adults and I imagine it will come to them. I know however as a history teacher I was not just going to teach the positive things. We still talked about slavery and especially how that in terms is even affecting the way we live in the modern world today or at least the years I was teaching. We talked about the tragedies, the space shuttle, 9/11, The Depression, of course all the wars including Vietnam. The assassinations of leaders was also topics we touched on. It was not all positive because that is not History in my book.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Yeah but I wrote the title of the book, which we Black people found to be enlightening. How would anyone know what book i'm talking about with one of the words *** out?! The book was first published in 1933.

View attachment 207726

Sorry Diva, I didn't make the list of words, if there were no racists here in the past using those words in a hateful way, @Matrix likely wouldn't have had to make that list, some of those people are no longer here. When I looked at the word you typed, I knew immediately what it was. Perhaps Matrix will consider editing the list now, don't know.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Sorry Diva, I didn't make the list of words, if there were no racists here in the past using those words in a hateful way, @Matrix likely wouldn't have had to make that list, some of those people are no longer here. When I looked at the word you typed, I knew immediately what it was. Perhaps Matrix will consider editing the list now, don't know.

Sorry SeaBreeze. I wasn't blaming you, believe me. Maybe Matrix feels like I have at times, that the word in the book title too closely resembles the derogatory word.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Sorry SeaBreeze. I wasn't blaming you, believe me. Maybe Matrix feels like I have at times, that the word in the book title too closely resembles the derogatory word.

I doubt he saw your post at all today, the software just automatically removed the word. I've been here a long time and won't go into detail, but that word was used in a similar way as the n-word by a couple of people in the past with additional racist comments and images.

 

[ElCastor]

Granted that the United States has not been perfect, but our Constitution and First Amendment were revolutionary in their time and a continuing example in democracy for the rest of the world. Were it not for America it seems likely that Europe and Asia might well have succumbed to Germany and Japan during the second World War -- a not very pleasant prospect. So, perfect - no, but important, yes. For those who disagree, I would suggest that actions currently deemed outrageous should be judged by the the standards and morality of the time.

 

[rgp]

History is essential. Higher level math is not.

I respectfully disagree. I believe we should be taught all that we can possibly learn. In the school years, there is no way of knowing where that kid might take his/her education.

Actually, the opposite is true. By that I mean, history is what it is, and we cannot change it. True, we should & can learn from it but ... Math on the other hand [depending on how it is applied] can change the world forever............ jmo

 

[Alligatorob]

Higher level math is not

I can't agree, I think one of the problems we have today is much of the general public's poor understanding of quantitative issues, like risk.

I believe better math and quantitative skills would help with better decision making.

 

[JaniceM]

@rgp and @Alligatorob I disagree with your viewpoints, but you're entitled to your opinions.

 

[JaniceM]

I understand what you are saying. I would hope the reader if they while reading would come up with any questions would do research. I know when I read any book that is non fiction or a documentary I formulate many questions in my head while reading the authors perspective and do research to see if there are any contrasting views. Now if someone has absolutely no idea about the subject matter they are reading and they only somehow have this one persons view point I can see where they would become influenced possibly wrongly.

Yes, the last sentence in your post is my concern.

 

[Signe The Survivor]

Yes, the last sentence in your post is my concern.

I understand that, but if someone is picking up a book they most likely have some understanding of the subject of the book or it wouldn't have interested them in the first place. Most people don't pick up a book that they have zero idea what it is about so we are talking about a very few people who would be in that mix you are talking about.

 

[helenbacque]

I believe that we all should be taught the unbiased truth.

The problem becomes who's truth.

My version of American history was taught to me by my grandparents, parents, and the public school system. Each had its own agenda and unique version of

"History is written, by the victors." - Winston Churchill

Exactly. I didn't begin to learn our true, unbiased and complete history until I was grown and moved away from the small southern town I grew up in.